Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Total Motorcycle Tire/Tyre Guide
http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/TotalMot ... eGuide.htm

Even more tire/tyre manufacturers completed:

Avon
Bridgestone
Cheng-Shin
Dunlop
Kenda
Metzeler
Michelin
and
Pirelli


Still to go:

Continental
Maxxis
(and a few scooter tires in Cheng-Shin*)

* Just couldn't finish them today as I'm too bug-eyed from looking at the computer screen.

Mike.

Can someone explain the difference between a V and H speed rating?

If I were to purchase tires online, where do I take them to be put on the wheels and balanced?

Find a bike shop/mechanic that will put your tyres on for you before you purchase them. Some places get a little touchy if you are not buying the tyres from them as well.

My Honda manual says that the VTR is supposed to have 100/90-16 54s on the front, and 120/80-17 61s on the back. Interestingly, it actually has a 130/80-17 on the back at the moment which needs to be replaced. Does anyone know any advantages or disadvantages of putting on a wider tire than recommended by the manual even if there is room for it? What about putting on a tire with a lower profile (sidewall) such as a 130/70-17? Is there any reason I shouldn't do that?

isnowbrd wrote:Can someone explain the difference between a V and H speed rating?

If I were to purchase tires online, where do I take them to be put on the wheels and balanced?

You will LOVE this... Speed ratings and more... Total Motorcycle Tire Tech 101: http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photos/t ... reTech.htm

More information than you really want to know about motorcycle tires. haha.

No matter where you buy your tires from (internet or local), you almost always pay extra to have them put on your rims. So it's best to check the internet first as it almost always is the lowest price so you can save a few bucks. If you can bring your rim (off your bike) to the dealership they will change you a lot less than if you bring your bike and they have to do the work. Here it's $40 if the rim is on the bike, $20 if it's off per tire.

Mike.

totalmotorcycle wrote:

isnowbrd wrote:Can someone explain the difference between a V and H speed rating?

If I were to purchase tires online, where do I take them to be put on the wheels and balanced?

You will LOVE this... Speed ratings and more... Total Motorcycle Tire Tech 101: http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photos/t ... reTech.htm

More information than you really want to know about motorcycle tires. haha.

No matter where you buy your tires from (internet or local), you almost always pay extra to have them put on your rims. So it's best to check the internet first as it almost always is the lowest price so you can save a few bucks. If you can bring your rim (off your bike) to the dealership they will change you a lot less than if you bring your bike and they have to do the work. Here it's $40 if the rim is on the bike, $20 if it's off per tire.

Mike.

Stuff like this IS why I love this site. Thanks for all the great info, looks like I'm going to be reading for a while.

I found a local Yamaha dealer that will put the tires on for about $50 if I just drop off the bike, and around $35 if I bring in the wheels.

One other question. Does anyone know a good place to buy tires online? Specifically I'm looking for Bridgestone.

I only try bridgestone since it is OEM come with the bike. I just ordered Metzeler ME880 for the front, thou. Regarding to the life of tire or milage, I think we cannot compare sport bike tire with cruiser style. Also the riding style is the important role to play as well.

As of now i put 12,000 miles on my bike, the rear seems to have some milage left around 3-5000 miles. The front needs to be replace becuz some bald spot and the unproper round (old tire)

when the rear needs to be replace I might go with Bridgestone again.

isnowbrd wrote:I found a local Yamaha dealer that will put the tires on for about $50 if I just drop off the bike, and around $35 if I bring in the wheels.

One other question. Does anyone know a good place to buy tires online? Specifically I'm looking for Bridgestone.

http://tiresunlimited.com/default.htm is where I order all my tires from. Never had a problem, decent prices, quick shipping.

I thought speed rating "H" is lower than "S", I guess I have to look at tire spec again.